Line Dance

What Is Line Dance?

Line dance is a choreographed sequence of steps that a group dances together, in rows, all facing the same direction and without partners. Each dance is a fixed routine that repeats until the song ends, so once you know the steps you can join any floor that plays it.

Looking for partner folk dancing to a live band? See our ceilidh guide.

Dances are described by counts and walls. The count is the number of beats in one pass of the routine, and the wall is the direction you face when it starts again. A 32-count, 2-wall dance repeats every 32 beats and turns you to face the back of the room every other time. Tags and restarts are small breaks in the pattern written to fit the music.

It grew out of American country and western dancing, but today's classes use far more than country music. Dance Generation, which has taught in Eltham since 1999, says its routines now go "from Pop to Latin, Country to Irish", and borrow steps from the cha cha, waltz and tango.

Line Dance vs Ceilidh

Line dance and ceilidh are both social group dances that welcome beginners, and both are sometimes called "barn dances". They work in very different ways.

Benefits and What You Will Gain

Who It Is Suitable For

How Classes Work in London

In the centre and west, London Dance Studio teaches weekly drop-in classes at St Andrew's Church on Greyhound Road, near Barons Court: Tuesday at 2pm (beginners) and 3pm (intermediate), and Thursday at 7pm (beginners). Rambert, by Waterloo, and Pineapple Dance Studios in Covent Garden also list line dance among their adult classes.

In the north-west, ANGELS Linedance Club runs a dedicated club with BWDA-qualified instructors. It teaches on Monday, Tuesday and Friday mornings in Harefield, on Wednesday evenings in Hillingdon and on Tuesday evenings in Greenford. In the north, Anita Dance Studio lists western line dance among its styles. See the West London and North London guides for more studios.

The south-east has the longest-running classes. Dance Generation has taught on Fridays at the Christchurch Centre on Eltham High Street since 1999. Funky Country Linedance runs classes from absolute beginners to intermediate in Bexley, and Just Dance UK holds line dance evenings at the Brown & Green Café in Crystal Palace Park, about five minutes' walk from Penge West.

In the south-west, Dance Addiction Studios runs a social line dance class on Mondays at 2pm in Southfields. Wimbledon School of Freestyle and Ballroom teaches line dancing and a Latin line dance class on Thursdays at St Luke's Church Hall in Wimbledon Park. In the east, Steps Ahead Dance Academy teaches salsa and Latin line dancing for adults in Hainault. Browse the South East and South West London guides for more.

Most classes are pay-as-you-go drop-ins. A typical session teaches one or two new dances step by step, then repeats them to music along with dances learned in earlier weeks. Prices are low: Dance Generation charges £8 per class or £10 for both Friday classes, and Funky Country lists non-member classes from £5.20 for an absolute beginners' hour to £9.20 for an evening session (checked October 2026).

To try it cheaply, London Dance Studio offers a £1 trial to newsletter subscribers and sells blocks of ten classes. Wimbledon School of Freestyle and Ballroom charges £12 for its Latin line dance drop-in (checked October 2026). Teachers are often qualified through line dance or ballroom bodies such as the BWDA, IDTA or ISTD, which offers Country Western and Line Dance qualifications. If you prefer partner dancing to country music, see rock and roll or swing.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need a partner for line dancing? +
  No. Everyone dances the same routine on their own, side by side, so you can come alone. Every class on this page says no partner is required.
• How much do line dance classes cost in London? +
  Most are cheap drop-ins. Dance Generation charges £8 a class in Eltham, Funky Country lists classes from £5.20, and London Dance Studio offers a £1 trial to newsletter subscribers (checked October 2026).
• Is line dancing only to country music? +
  No. Routines are still written to country songs, but London classes also dance to pop, Latin and Irish music, and some teach Latin line dance to cha cha, rumba and samba rhythms.
• What do "counts" and "walls" mean? +
  The count is the number of beats in one pass of the routine, and the wall is the direction you face when it starts again. A 32-count, 4-wall dance turns a quarter each time, so you face all four walls of the room.
• What shoes should I wear? +
  Shoes with a low, wide heel and a smooth sole, so you can turn easily. Avoid grippy trainers, flip-flops and high heels. Cowboy boots are optional.
• Can I start if I have never danced before? +
  Yes. Look for a class labelled beginners or absolute beginners, such as London Dance Studio's Tuesday and Thursday drop-ins or Funky Country's absolute beginners' class. Established classes can take a few weeks to catch up with, as Dance Generation points out.
• Is line dancing good exercise? +
  Yes. It keeps you moving for a whole session at a low impact, and learning the routines exercises your memory too. If you want a higher-intensity workout, see Zumba.